By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the awarding ceremony for the 2024 Outstanding Government Workers at Malacañan Palace in Manila, despite having a common cold.
“I’m sorry, I have picked up what everybody else seems to have, which is a cough and a cold, but it will not slow me down,” Marcos said in his speech, after conferring the awards to the winners of the 2024 Search for Outstanding Government Workers.
“We are fortunate to be in the presence of these outstanding exemplars and to hear tales of feats and achievements. And I think you have noticed that when we were together on stage, we were having some very animated discussions because I have to say that we are all very, very impressed by the quality of the work that was exhibited by the winners,” he added.
Under the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Honor Awards Program, the annual search aims to recognize civil servants who have demonstrated outstanding performance, extraordinary acts or services that contribute to the attainment of efficiency, economy, and improvement of government operations, and consistent display of exemplary ethical behavior.
Three award categories comprise the CSC’s annual Honor Awards Program. These include the Presidential Lingkod Bayan, the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or Dangal ng Bayan, and the CSC Pagasa Award.
The ceremony is the culmination of the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary which is celebrated every September.
Six individuals and three groups were conferred the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, a recognition granted to those who have made exceptional contributions through innovative ideas or impactful actions of national significance, particularly in the areas of public interest, security, and patrimony.
Ten individual winners from various government offices also received the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees (Dangal ng Bayan) Award, which is conferred on government employees who have demonstrated extraordinary acts of public service and consistent adherence to high ethical standards as outlined in Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The CSC Pagasa Award—given to an individual or group of individuals for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one department of the government pursuant to Executive Order 292, s. 1987—was awarded to eight individuals and one group winner.
Marcos honored the awardees, saying they set the bar high by making “a deep and lasting impact beyond the confines of our communities and our institutions.”
“So, let me congratulate this year’s Outstanding Government Workers. Your exceptional service, complemented by your principles, your virtues, and your hard work, has truly inspired everyone to strive to make a difference in our society,” he said.
“And if we continue with this kind and keep the bar this high, I have once again my optimism for the future of the Philippines [that] is like a balloon and goes up higher and higher and higher,” he added.
Integrity, loyalty, efficiency
Marcos renewed his call on civil servants to continue serving the Filipino people with “integrity, loyalty, and efficiency.”
He told them that the impact of government personnel’s work does not lie in the recognition that they receive or the laurels that they are given, stressing that it lies “in the hearts that we have touched, the communities that we have reached, and the lives that we have changed.”
“After all, government work is about making our people, our country, and our world better than when we found it. Let us continue to live by our constitutional mandate that public office is a public trust. We should remain transparent, accountable to all our people and to serve them with integrity, loyalty, and efficiency,” Marcos said.
“So, as we push back the boundaries of public service, let us strive to be Bagong Pilipino, one who will make our vision of a prosperous, progressive, and equitable society a reality within our lifetimes,” he added.
Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award
This year’s Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees were:
- Undersecretary Glenn Mathew Guillermo Baggao of the Department of Health (DOH) in the City of Manila
- Municipal Government Department Head I (Municipal Environment & Natural Resources Officer) Wilson A. Batislaon of the Municipal Government of Leganes, Iloilo
- Medical Specialist III Rachelle C. Dela Cruz of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City
- Social Welfare Office IV Ann Rapunzel O. Ganzon of the Provincial Government of Iloilo in Iloilo City
- Career Scientist II Marcela M. Navasero of the University of the Philippines Los Baños in Laguna
- Professor III Santiago T. Peña Jr. of the Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte
- Health Beyond Bar Programs of the Bataan Peninsula State University in Balanga City, Bataan
- ISU-Cagayan Valley Cacao Development Center (CVCDC) of the Isabela State University in Echague, Isabela
- PHILGAP Champs of the Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte
Dangal ng Bayan Award
Meanwhile, the Dangal ng Bayan awardees were:
- Nursing Attendant II Reymaximiano Q. Aquino of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) in Baguio City
- School Principal II Daryl B. Arguelles of Bagtason Elementary School, Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office of Antique in Bugasong, Antique
- Administrative Aide V (Plumber II) Michael Ike M. Bertulfo of the Office of the Municipal Engineer/Waterworks, Municipal Government of Macrohon in Macrohon, Southern Leyte
- Medical Specialist III Jimmy A. Billod of the BGHMC in Baguio City
- Administrative Aide III (Utility Worker II) Florentino N. Dela Cruz Jr. of the Baguio City Public Library, City Government of Baguio in Baguio City
- Teacher III Donna Lyn M. Geronimo of Camarines Sur National High School, DepEd Schools Division Office of Naga City in Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City
- Licensing Officer I Erly Rose L. Guzman of the City Permits and Licensing Office, City Government of Lipa in Lipa City, Batangas
- Administrative Aide I Rick O. Habana of Cabcab Central Elementary School, DepEd Schools Division Office of Catanduanes in San Andres, Catanduanes
- Master Teacher I Dyecebel A. Pangaldin of DepEd-Alternative Learning System, Schools Division Office of Sarangani in Alabel, Sarangani Province
- Associate Professor IV Shirley M. Siozon of the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City
CSC Pagasa Award
The CSC Pagasa awardees were:
- Inspector (Jail) Anita T. Andueza of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Regional Office V, Legazpi City Jail in Bogtong, Legazpi City
- Senior Education Program Specialist Kyle David V. Atienza of DepEd Schools Division Office of Marinduque in Boac, Marinduque
- School Principal IV Lordelyn A. Buyo of Carmen National High School, DepEd Schools Division Office of Davao Del Norte in Carmen, Davao Del Norte
- Information Technology Officer I Jekyll D. Cadungog of DepEd Schools Division Office of Zamboanga Sibugay in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay
- Corporate Executive Officer I Jasmin F. Gutierrez of the Social Security System San Pablo Branch in San Pablo City, Laguna
- Master Teacher II June Elias V. Patalinghug of Ciriaco Mariano Elementary School, DepEd Schools Division Office of Davao City in Davao City
- Administrative Officer V Adelfa T. Salutan of the City Government of Tagbilaran in Tagbilaran City, Bohol
- Information Officer III Hector Ulibas Tabbun of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office No. 02 in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
- DA Caraga Soybean Advocates of the DA Regional Office XIII in Butuan City
In his message, CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles expressed his pride in the harvest of awardees who imbibe the outstanding work, perseverance, and exemplification of unquestionable integrity of the country’s public sector human capital.
“Dahil sa kanila, mas marami na ang lubos na natutuwa sa mga pagbabago sa paraan ng paglilingkod ng mga kawani ng gobyerno sa mamamayang Pilipino—ilan sa mga ito ay ang mas mabilis at mas maginhawang aplikasyon sa mga programa, mas madaling paghingi ng social assistance at ayudang pangkabuhayan at pagnenegosyo, mga inisyatibong nagsusulong sa paggamit ng makabagong teknolohiya sa agrikultura, at marami pang iba,” Nograles said.
